U.S. Sales Halt By Alfa Romeo

Published: January 25, 1995

MILAN, Italy, Jan. 24—
The Italian car maker Fiat S.p.A. said today that it would stop making its Alfa Romeo cars for the North American market after this year because of heavy losses.

That will mean the end of Fiat's passenger-car presence in the United States. Fiat also makes cars under its own name and under the name Lancia, although they are not sold in the United States or Canada.

Fiat said that "Alfa Romeo's continued presence in the North American market has become increasingly economically unfeasible" and that it expected losses to continue. The statement did not give details of the losses.

The company said it could not justify the cost of adapting future models to United States specifications.

Fiat had a loss in 1993 for the first time since the 1970's. Analysts expect it to bounce back with a profit of more than $1 billion for 1994.